meecee



(No Model.)

F. D. & J. S. MERGER.

HARVESTBR. No. 340,808. Patented Apr. 27, 1886;

. 65. lmeniors.

TUNTTED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FREDRIOK D. MERGER AND'JOHN S. MERCER, OF DEREHAM, COUNTY OF OXFORD, ONTARIO, CANADA.

HARVESTER.

SPECIFFECATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 340.808, dated April 27, 1886. Application filed April 15, 1885. Serial No. 162,321. (No model.) Patented in Canada April .27, 1885, No. 21,542.

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that we, FREDRICK DUNCAN MERCER, farmer, and JOHN SMITH MERGER, gentleman, bot-h of the township of Dereham, in the county of Oxford, in the Province of Ontario, Canada, have jointly invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Harvesters, of which the following is a specification.

The object of the invention is to so connect the tongue of the harvester to its frame that it may readily be swung round from the front to the side of the machine without being disconnected; and it consists, essentially, in providing a link pivoted at one end to a corner of the frame and at its other end to the tongue,

so that the tongue may be swung round from its initial position at the front of the machine to a point on the side of the machine, where it may be utilized for the purpose of drawing the machine at right angles to the direction in which it is usually pulled, suitable attachments for securing the tongue in both positions being provided, substantially as hereinafter more particularly explained.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the machine, showing the tongue secured in its position for drawing the inachine when in operation. Fig. 2 is a similar view, but showing the tongue attached to the machine, so as to draw it at right angles to the di rection in which the machine is usually pulled.

Although our invention is applicable to reaping-machines of every description, it is especially designed for harvester-binders,which machines, owing to the bindertablc, are wider than the width of ordinary farm'gates. Hitherto it has been customary either to remove the binder-table and its attachments when it is necessary to draw the machine through a gate, or to design the binder-table, so that it may be folded up to reduce the width of the machine sufficientlyto permit-itto pass through a farm-gate of ordinary size.

In the drawings, A represents the ordinary frame of the harvester; B, the tongue, which is pivoted on the bar 0, on which its braces D are also pivoted. The bar 0 fits into brackets E, which are rigidly fastened to the frame A. Pins F are inserted through holes in the brackets E in front of the bar 0, so as to hold the said bar O in position while the draft is upon the tongue.

G is a link pivoted at one end to the corner of the frame, and at its other end to the bar 0, close to the tongue B.

H is a tilting lever pivoted on the frame A in the ordinary way, its other end fitting onto a pin, a, attached to the tongue B. This lever H is held on the pin a by a spring or plate, I. By detaching the lever 11 and removing the pins F the tongue B may be swung round the corner of the machine upon the link G until it reaches and fits into brackets J, corresponding to the brackets E, and similarly fixed to the frame A.

As it would not be possible to draw the machine at right angles to the direction in which it would roll upon the main ground-wheel K without raising the said wheel clear of the ground, we provide auxiliary caster-wheels L, which are detachably fitted to the frame, so that they may readily be placed in position when required, and as easily removed when the machine is to be driven in the ordinary direction. The main wheel K revolves on' an axle having spur-wheels M fixed to it, which fit into a segmental rack, N, having teeth out in it to mesh with the spur-wheels M.

O is an endless link-chain passing round a sprocket-wheel fixed to the axle .of the wheel K, and also round a sprocket-wheel, P, fixed to a spindle, Q, journalcd on the frame A and provided with ratchet-gear It, so that while it may be revolved it will stand in any desired position.

\Vhen it becomes necessary to change the tongue B from the front of the machine to the side, we place the caster-wheels L on the machine, and by turning the spindle Q, we raise the main wheel K, or, in other words, lower the frame A until the caster-wheels L come in contact with the ground, so as to hold the wheel K clear.

Vhen the tongue D is in the position indicated in Fig. 2, a flexible brace, S, extends from the end of the double-tree to a staple attached to the frame A, so that the draft isextended nearly across the machine.

From this description it will be seen that by our invention the tongue B can readily be swung round from its ordinary position for work in the field to the side of the machine, where it may be connected for the purpose of drawing the machine at right angles to the direction in which it is usually pulled, and consequently, as the depth of the machine is much less than its width, it will pass through gateways much narrower than it could were it drawn in the ordinary manner.

Ne do not claim, broadly, the combination, with the frame of a grain binding and harvesting machine, of a draft-pole pivotally attached thereto, so that it may be placed at right angles to or parallel with the cutterbar, and means for locking said pole firmly in one or the other of said positions at will, whereby the tongue may be employed for guiding the machine when in operation, and also when drawn endwisc.

\Ve do not claim, broadly, detaching the tongue from the front of the machine and reattaching it to the side; but

Vhat we do claim as our invention is' 1. The combination, with the frame of the machine, ofa tongue, the link G, pivotally connecting the two, and means for holding said tongue in either of two positions, substantially as described.

2. The bar 0, the tongue B, pivoted thereto, the braces D, and linkG, pivotally connecting said bar to the frame, combined with the brackets E, fixed to said frame and provided with detachable pins F, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

3. A tongue, B, pivoted on a bar, 0, and stayed thereto by the braces D, in combina tion with the brackets E, fixed to the frame A and provided with detachable pins F, and the tilting lever H, pivoted in the ordinary way on the frame A and detachabl y connected to the tongue B, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

4. A link, G, pivoted substantially on the corner of the frame A at one end, and at its other end to the bar 0, on which the tongue B is pivoted, in combination with brackets E and J, provided with holding-pins, the whole operating substantially as and for the purpose specified.

FREDRICK 1). MERCER. J. s. MERCER.

In presence of O. THOMAS, J. S. DRAPER. 

